Press Release

LEXINGTON, Mass., March 1, 2006 - Martin A. Bloom, Richard J. Brackett and Robert Hoffman, a "dream team" of restaurateurs, announce the opening in early spring of Max Stein's American, a restaurant celebrating the American supper clubs of the 1940s.

With their unique talents for imagining, designing and operating world-quality restaurants, Bloom, Brackett and Hoffman bring together a 'perfect storm' of abilities and experience.

Bloom has forged a successful and rewarding career opening and operating restaurants. His folio includes the popular Vinny Testa's of Boston chain, which he founded, and Starbuck's American Bar and Grill in Hyannis, Massachusetts. He was also president and chief executive officer of Bloom Management Corporation, operating five restaurants in southeastern Massachusetts that included Fred's Turkey House, Bloom's Prime Rib House and Stromboli's, the predecessor of Vinny Testa's. By pairing his entrepreneurial creativity with a passion for the hospitality industry, Bloom has opened and operated six different restaurant concepts. In 1979 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology from Brandeis University.

Brackett was most recently managing partner of The Capital Grille in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Before that he served at The Grille as beverage manager, bar manager and lobby and lounge manager. Richard is a member of the Greater Boston Visitor Convention Bureau, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor's Business Advisory Board of Newton, Massachusetts. This year he served as a panel member at Rare Hospitality's national conference, where the theme was "Making a Difference."

Hoffman has been in the retail and wholesale wine and liquor distribution and importing business for over 30 years. He was president and co-owner of Classic Wine Imports, an internationally recognized importing and distribution business selling over 5,000 different wines from all over the world. He built the company to $37 million in sales over 14 years, amassing a portfolio of the finest wines by traveling widely to taste and source. He also has extensive experience in labor management, operations, finance and real estate. Classic Wine was sold in 2000, and Mr. Hoffman is now co-owner of two full-service wine and liquor stores in the Boston area, Wine Cellar of Silene and Warehouse Wine and Spirits.

"I guess you could call us a 'Dream Team,'" Brackett said. "We love to work together, and in creating Max Stein's American we discovered we have the perfect blend of skills, experience and passion for the task of making great restaurants."

Max Stein's is the first of several "concept" restaurants the three restaurateurs plan to roll out this year. According to Brackett, "How many restaurants we open will be determined by how successful we become at satisfying our customers."

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Max Stein's American, a classic steakhouse restaurant in historic Lexington, Massachusetts, draws its ethos from the "supper club" of the 1940s, a place of heartiness and elegance, of suave comfort and the guiltless enjoyment of pleasure. We seat 260 diners on the main restaurant floor and 124 in our function rooms. Lunch is served Monday through Friday. Diner is served daily Monday through Sunday. Additional information is available at www.maxstein's.com.